Footwear Structure with Improved Comfortableness

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a footwear structure with improved comfortableness comprising an upper with which a sole is associated, wherein the footwear structure comprises a container comprising a box-type body, containing at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, provided with at least one inlet, and means for shutting and opening said at least one inlet that is kept, in walking phase, in an active position wherein said at least one inlet is accessible and communicating with the inside of the upper. The present invention further concerns the corresponding container.

The present invention concerns a footwear structure with improved comfortableness.

Nowadays several footwear of known type are used having a number of devices for attaining aeration of the inside part of the upper of the same.

Nowadays a problem, due to the foot perspiration, is much felt that causes the stagnation, within the footwear, of moisture and sweat which significantly make the footwear comfortableness.

The same Applicant owns the Italian patent application No. TV2004A000036 that is a partial solution to such technical problem, that discloses a footwear comprising a box-type sole, within which a seat is made in the heel zone, that is open upwards and preferably rectangular according to a plan view, within which first means capable to absorb moisture are positionable, that is constituted of at least one container, for instance with cylindrical conformation, having, over the side walls and the bottom, a plurality of holes; a suitable material capable to absorb moisture, such as for instance hygroscopic salt, is removably positionable within the container.

Second means for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to the aforesaid seat are present within the footwear, which means conveys, during a walk, moist air present within the upper to the seat made within the sole. Then, moist air goes from the inside of the seat into the container through the holes made thereon, thus coming into contact with the material capable to absorb moisture; such material, reacting with moisture present in the air, causes formation of a liquid, mainly composed of water, that is collected within the seat, which thus operates as gathering tank.

Third means for continuously and unidirectionally draining the liquid gathered within the seat are also present, that is constituted of a sloping duct made within the sole and communicating with the bottom of the seat, which makes the latter communicate with the outside environment; such duct typically arrives at the outside of the sole in correspondence of the lower surface of the same, in the heel front zone, thus resulting in being spaced apart from ground and scarcely visible from outside.

A unidirectional valve is associated with such duct allowing liquid to pass only from the seat towards the outside of the sole.

Although such solution is satisfactory, the possibility has been noted that the material capable to absorb moisture remains in contact with air even when the footwear is not used, thus performing nonstop its moisture absorbing operation; this reduces the life of such material, compelling its replacement.

Moreover, the possibility has been checked that the duct allowing the gathered liquid to flow out can be accidentally obstructed for instance by mud.

Hence, the main goal of what is the subject matter of the present invention is that of solving the illustrated technical problem, by avoiding the drawbacks of the cited prior art and thus conceiving a solution that allows moisture inside a footwear to be reduced and the user's comfort to be improved, and formation of bad smells, moulds and fungi to be eliminated, all above for a long time, also independently from the use of the footwear.

Within the aforementioned goal, another important object is that of making a solution wherein reduction of moisture within a footwear can be attained for a long time, without requiring a frequent replacement of one or more parts of the same footwear.

Still an important object is that of making a solution maintaining previous characteristics even in the case where the footwear is to be used in the mud.

Not least object is that of making a solution being structurally simple, the same involving reduced manufacture costs.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide a footwear that may efficiently be in aid of a therapeutic treatment of feet.

The mentioned goal and objects, as well as others which will more clearly appear in the following, are reached by a footwear structure with improved comfortableness comprising an upper with which a sole is associated, characterised in that it comprises a container comprising a box-type body, containing a dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, provided with at least one inlet, and means for shutting and opening said at least one inlet, kept, in walking phase, in an active position wherein said at least one inlet is accessible and communicating with the inside of the upper.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be better shown by the detailed description of preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of indication and not by way of limitation in the attached sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in an exploded perspective view, a footwear structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, in a section lying in a transverse plane passing through the centre of the seat made within the sole, the footwear structure of FIG. 1, with the second box-type body hold in external position;

FIG. 3 shows, in a view similar to the preceding one, the footwear structure of FIG. 1 with the second box-type body in active position;

la FIG. 4 shows, in an exploded perspective view, the first and the second box-type bodies and the moisture gathering tank moisture gathering tank;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded top perspective view of a second embodiment of the container according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows an exploded bottom perspective view of the container of FIG. 5.

In the following exemplary embodiments, single features, shown in relation to specific examples, could be actually interchanged with other different features, existing in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it should be noted that what should turn out as known in the course of the patent granting procedure is to be intended as being not claimed and subject of a disclaimer in the claims.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, reference number 1 indicates a first embodiment of a footwear structure according to the invention comprising an upper, not represented in the attached figures, to which a sole 2 is associated, starting from the upper surface of which, in the heel zone, a seat 3 is made, that is open upwards, advantageously but not necessarily having a substantially rectangular conformation according to a plan view.

A first box-type body 4, that is hollow and open upwards, may be removably housed within the seat 3, advantageously, but not necessarily, having a substantially parallelepiped conformation; alternatively the first box-type body 4 may have for instance a prismatic or cylindrical conformation.

The first box-type body 4 has an upper perimeter edge 5 from which a perimeter projection 6, having a substantially plate conformation, radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge.

The first box-type body 4 has a side surface 7 wherein one or more first through holes 8 are made; in the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures they are made in two mutually parallel walls constituting the side surface 7 close to the upper perimeter edge 5.

A first perimeter notch or scarcement, defining a first perimeter substantially vertical ledge 10, is made on the outer surface of the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, in correspondence with the perimeter edge of the same.

A first through aperture 11 is made in the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, advantageously substantially at the centre thereof, that communicates with an underlying moisture gathering tank 12, removably downwards associatable with the first box-type body 4.

The tank 12 advantageously has, according to a plan view, a substantially counter-shaped conformation in respect to the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, and hence, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures, the same is substantially parallelepiped.

The interconnection between the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4 and the tank 12 is allowed by the fact that the latter has, in correspondence with the inner perimeter edge of the free ends of the side walls, a second scarcement defining a second substantially vertical ledge 14, that engages, when in use, with the counter-shaped first ledge 10 of the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4.

The projection of the second ledge 14 onto the horizontal plane advantageously falls within the projection of the first ledge 10 onto the same plane, and hence such first and second ledges may be mutually associated only through a preliminary elastic flexure of the side walls 13 of the tank 12 towards the outside of the latter; the side walls 13 hence tend, when in use, to elastically return to their indeformated configuration, thus pressing the second ledges 14 against the first ledge 10 and thus temporarily removably constraining, by means of friction, the tank 12 against the first box-type body 4.

A second box-type body 15, that is hollow and open upwards, is associated in a sliding way within the first box-type body 4, bucking an elastically deformable element, within which second box-type body a material capable to absorb moisture, not shown in the attached figures, constituted for instance of silica gel, is positionable.

The second box-type body 15 is substantially counter-shaped, according to a plan view, in respect to the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, hence being, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures, substantially parallelepiped.

A third scarcement defining a third perimeter ledge 18 is made on the side surface 16 of the second box-type body 15, internally to the same and starting from the upper perimeter edge 17 of the same.

One or more second through holes 19 are made in the side surface 16 of the second box-type body 15, which are positioned so as to be, in walking phase, facing the first holes 8 of the first box-type body 4 and communicating with the inside of the upper, in a position also called active.

Advantageously, but not necessarily, in correspondence of the aforesaid active position, the upper perimeter edge 17 of the second box-type body 15 is positioned substantially in the same lie plane of the perimeter projection 6 of the first box-type body 4.

A third through hole 21 is made in the bottom 20 of the second box-type body 15, in respect to which one or more second through apertures 22 are made sideways, which have, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figures, a substantially rectangular conformation according to a plan view.

The second box-type body 15 is closed upwards by a lid 23 having a plate conformation and size such to be positioned with its perimeter edge engaging the third ledge 18 made on the side surface 16, radially pressing the side walls of the same, and temporarily constraining it by means of friction.

A valve 24 for closing the first aperture 11 of the first box-type body 4 is associated with the bottom 20 of the second box-type body 15, that is activatable as the second box-type body 15 reaches the aforesaid active position.

Advantageously, the closing valve 24 is constituted of a preferably cylindrical stem 25, of diameter larger than the third hole 21 and lower than that of the first aperture 11, on the side surface of which an annular groove 26 is made, in the proximity of its upper end facing the lid 23, having diameter lower than the diameter of the third hole 21, so as to be able to be positioned internally to the same constraining the position of the valve 24 in respect to the second box-type body 15.

Advantageously, the upper end of the stem 25 is substantially hemispherical so as to facilitate its unidirectional passage through the third hole 21.

The stem 25 sets itself, when in use, internally to the first aperture 11, from which its lower end protrudes towards the tank 12, with which lower end a washer or small disk 27 of diameter larger than that of the same first aperture 11 is associated.

The engagement of the washer 27 with the perimeter edge of the first aperture 11 prevents the stem 25 from getting out of the latter towards the upper perimeter edge 5 of the first box-type body 4, thus limiting the protrusion of the second box-type body 15 towards the outside of this one.

The aforesaid elastically deformable element, advantageously constituted of a spring 28, set coaxially to the valve 24, is interposed between the bottom 20 and the bottom 9, of respectively the second box-type body 15 and the first box-type body 4.

Means, of known type, for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to the seat 3 is present within said sole 2, which means advantageously comprises a plurality of partitioning baffles 29, defined within the sole 2 and which extend towards the front of the seat 3 5 and substantially in the zone of the arch and the front foot, which baffles are substantially placed transversely to the same sole 2; the first one of the partitioning baffles 29 delimits a wall 30 of the seat 3.

The partitioning baffles 29 subdivide the sole 2 into a series of chambers 31, that are open upwards, communicating with each other through proper slits 32 made starting from the upper perimeter edge of the same partitioning baffles 29; the slits 32 are also made in the partitioning baffle 29 defining the wall 30 of the seat 3.

Advantageously, small tubes 33 are positioned within the slits 32 of the partitioning baffle 29 defining the wall 30 and of one or more partitioning baffles 29 consecutive thereto, capable to guide the air to the seat 3, which have, in their side surface, third apertures 34.

The footwear structure 1 further comprises an inner sole 35, superimposable to the sole 2 so as to rest on the latter in correspondence of its rear zone, of the upper perimeter edge of the partitioning baffles 29, and of the inner perimeter edge of the same sole 2.

The inner sole 35 has, in the heel zone, a fourth hole 36 placed, when in use, upwards in respect to the seat 3 of the sole 2, so as to allow the first box-type body 4 along with the associated second box-type body 15 and tank 12 to access and be positioned within the same.

Hence, the first box-type body 4 is arranged, when in use, nearly wholly inside the seat 3, protruding from the same only with the perimeter projection 6, that is supported by the upper surface of the inner sole 35, in correspondence with the perimeter edge of the fourth hole 36.

Two slots, indicated by the reference numbers 37 a and 37 b respectively, are further made in the inner sole 35, from each one of which a substantially rectilinear slit 38 a, 38 b extends forward, covering the zone of the foot arch and front; such slots 37 a and 37 b are placed so that when the inner sole 35 is superimposed to the sole 2, they are positioned in correspondence with the third apertures 34 of the two small tubes 33, respectively.

A plurality of fifth holes 39 are further made in the inner sole 35, in the proximity of the slits 38 a and 38 b.

A removable insole 40 is positionable upon the inner sole 35, in which insole sixth holes 41 are made, for instance in the zone of the heel and foot front, which are preferably mutually interconnected through suitable grooves, not shown in the attached figures, made in the lower surface of the insole 40 facing, when in use, the inner sole 35.

The small tubes 33, along with the slits 29, the slots 37 a and 37 b, the slits 38 a and 38 b, the fifth holes 39 and the sixth holes 41 contribute to constitute the aforesaid means, of known type, for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to the seat 3.

The operation is thus the following: with reference to FIG. 2, when the user's foot is not inserted in the footwear, the spring 28 pushes the second box-type body 15 towards the outside of the first box-type body 4; the perimeter edge 17 of the second box-type body 15 and the lid 23 contiguous thereto thus protrude outside the lie plane of the perimeter projection 6 of the first box-type body 4.

The second holes 19 of the second box-type body 15 are not facing the first holes 8 of the first box-type body 4, being shut by the facing first side wall 7 of this one instead.

The washer 27 associated with the valve 24 is also kept pressed, always under the action of the spring 28, against the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, thus shutting the first aperture 11 made in the same.

In such condition, the moist air present in the seat 3 cannot enter inside the second box-type body 15, and the material contained therein does not get in contact with fresh moist air.

With reference to FIG. 3, once the foot is inserted in the footwear, the heel of the same presses, through the insole 40, onto the lid 23 and the contiguous upper perimeter edge 17 of the second box-type body 15, pushing the latter, against the action of the spring 28, towards the bottom 9 of the first box-type body 4, until the lid 23 and the upper perimeter edge 17 are positioned substantially on the same plane of the perimeter projection 6, reaching the position that is defined as active.

In such active position the second holes 19 are aligned with the first holes 8, allowing air to enter from the seat 3 to the inside of the second box-type body 15.

Moreover, in such active position, the washer 27 is kept pressed towards the tank 12 and it does not touch the bottom 9, so as not to shut the first aperture 11 made in the same.

The moist air contained within the upper is thus conveyed into the seat 3 through the aforesaid means of known type for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to the seat 3, and hence it passes, through the first holes)8 and the facing second holes 19, inside the second box-type body 15 containing the material capable to absorb moisture.

By reacting with moisture, such material causes the formation of a liquid, not shown in the attached figures, mainly composed of water, which, through the second apertures 22, enters the first box-type body 4 and then flows into the tank 12 through the first aperture 11.

The liquid accumulated within the tank 12 may be periodically removed by extracting the first box-type body 4 from the seat 3 and then separating the tank 12 from such box-type body 4.

In the case where, after a certain time, the material capable to absorb moisture exhausts its absorbing capability, the second box-type body 15, containing such material, along with the first box-type body 4 and the tank 12 connected thereto, may be removed and replaced with new similar components.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it may be observed that a second embodiment of the container according to the invention, differently from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, does not comprise the tank 12.

In particular, such container comprises a first box-type body 4′, hollow and open upwards, that may be housed in a corresponding seat of the sole of a footwear structure (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6).

The first box-type body 4′ has an upper perimeter edge 5′ from which a perimeter projection 6′, having a substantially plate conformation, radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge. In particular, the perimeter projection 6′ has, in the inner zone, i.e. adjacent to the upper perimeter edge 5′, a notch or scarcement defining a first seat 50 capable to house an element having a substantially plate conformation.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the upper perimeter edge 5′ has, according to a plan view, a conformation composed of three sides of a rectangle closed, at the fourth side, by an arc. Alternatively, the upper perimeter edge 5′ may have, for instance, according to a plan view, a substantially rectangular or circular conformation, and the first box-type body 4′ may have a prismatic or cylindrical conformation.

Differently from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the first box-type body 4′ has no holes in the side surface 7.

A through aperture 11′ is made in the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′, advantageously substantially at the centre thereof.

A second box-type body 15′, that is hollow and open upwards, is associated in a sliding way within the first box-type body 4, bucking an elastically deformable element, within which second box-type body a material capable to absorb moisture, not shown in the attached figures. In particular, the material used in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is a material that, thanks to its chemical-physical characteristics, is capable to adsorb the steam present in the environment wherein it is placed, without releasing the adsorbed water. Such property makes a water gathering tank not necessary.

The bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′ is substantially counter-shaped, according to a plan view, in respect to the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′. The second box-type body 15′ has an upper perimeter edge 17′ from which a perimeter projection 51, having a substantially plate conformation, radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge, which projection is capable to be housed within the first seat 50 of the first box-type body 4′, with which it may possibly elastically interacts. In particular, the perimeter projection 51 has, in the inner zone, i.e. adjacent to the upper perimeter edge 17′, a notch or scarcement defining a second seat 52 capable to house an element having a substantially plate conformation.

Accordingly to the conformation of the first box-type body 4′, the upper perimeter edge 17′ of the second box-type body 15′ has, according to a plan view, a conformation composed of three sides of a rectangle closed, at the fourth side, by an arc. Alternatively, the upper perimeter edge 17′ may have, for instance, according to a plan view, a substantially rectangular or circular conformation, and the first box-type body 4′ may have a prismatic or cylindrical conformation.

Differently from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the second box-type body 15′ has no holes in the side surface 16′.

The second box-type body 15′ is provided, below the bottom 20′, advantageously substantially at the centre thereof, with a shaped cylindrical pin 53 capable to be inserted into the aperture 11′ of the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′, through which the second box-type body 15′ may slide in the first box-type body 4′; in particular, the diameter of the shaped cylindrical pin 53 is lower than the diameter of the aperture 11′. The bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′ further has one or more, preferably circular, through apertures 22′.

The second box-type body 15′ is closed upwards by a lid 23′ having a plate conformation, having preferably such size that it elastically engages through its perimeter edge with the seat 52 of the second box-type body 15′, by radially pushing the perimeter projection 51 and the side walls 16′ thereof, and by temporarily constraining itself with the seat 52 by means of friction.

Advantageously, the pin 53 is positioned, when in use, inside the aperture 11′ of the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′, from which its lower end protrudes downwards, with which a washer or small disk 27′ of diameter larger than that of the same aperture 11′ is associatable. The washer 27′ is preferably removably associated with the pin 53, for instance through suitable projections and corresponding notches of the end of the pin 53 and of the central hole of the washer 27′, which allow the washer 27′ to be blocked and unblocked from the pin 53. The engagement of the washer 27′ with the perimeter edge of the aperture 11′ of the first box-type body 4′ limits the protrusion of the second box-type body 15′ towards the outside of this one, closing the aperture 11′ and, consequently, the inside of the second box-type body 15′ that is hence not accessible from outside.

The aforesaid elastically deformable element, advantageously constituted of a spring (not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), advantageously set coaxially to the pin 53, is interposed between the bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′ and the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′.

Also the container of FIGS. 5 and 6 is capable to assume, when a user's foot is put in the footwear structure provided with the container (i.e., preferably, in walking phase) an active position, in which the first box-type body 4′ is inserted in the second box-type body 15′ and the washer 27′ is spaced apart from the perimeter edge of the aperture 11′ of the first box-type body 4′, whereby the inside of the second box-type body 15′ is accessible from outside through the space between the pin 53 (of diameter lower than that of the aperture 11′) and the perimeter edge of the aperture 11′, the interspace between the bottoms 9′ and 20′ of the two box-type bodies 4′ and 15′ (between which the counteracting spring is interposed), and the through apertures 22′ of the bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′.

Advantageously, but not necessarily, in correspondence of said active position, the lid 23′ and the perimeter projection 51 of the second box-type body 15′ are positioned substantially in the same lie plane of the perimeter projection 6′ of the first box-type body 4′.

Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, means, of known type, for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to a seat 3 housing the container is present within the sole of the footwear structure comprising the container of FIGS. 5 and 6, which means advantageously comprises, within the sole, a plurality of partitioning baffles, defining a series of chambers communicating with each other, and small tubes capable to guide the air to the seat of the container, very similarly to what shown in FIG. 1. Such means for collecting and transferring moisture to the seat housing the container may further comprise an inner sole, superimposable to the sole, upon which a removable insole is positionable, still similarly to what shown in FIG. 1.

The operation of the container of FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar to that of FIGS. 1-4.

When the user's foot is not inserted in the footwear, the counteracting spring coaxial to the pin 53 pushes the second box-type body 15′ outside the first box-type body 4′; the perimeter projection 51 of the second box-type body 15′ and the lid 23′ contiguous to the same thus protrudes outside the lie plane of the perimeter projection 6′ of the first box-type body 4′, and the washer 27′ associated with the pin 53 is kept pressed against the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′, thus shutting the aperture 11′ made in the same. In such condition, moist air present within the seat of the sole cannot enter inside the second box-type body 15′, and the material contained Within the same does not get in contact with fresh moist air.

Once the foot is inserted in the footwear, the heel thereof presses, through the insole, onto the lid 23′ and the contiguous perimeter projection 51 of the second box-type body 15′, pushing the latter, against the action of the counteracting spring coaxial to the pin 53, towards the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′, until the lid 23′ and the perimeter projection 51 of the second box-type body 15′ are positioned substantially on the same plane of the perimeter projection 6′ of the first box-type body 4′, reaching the positioned that is defined as active.

In such active position, the aperture 11′ is not shut by the washer 27′, and, via the through apertures 22′ of the bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′, air may enter from the sole seat inside the second box-type body 15′. The moist air contained within the upper is thus conveyed into the seat housing the container through the aforesaid means of known type for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of the upper to said seat, and hence it passes, through the aperture 11′ of the bottom 9′ of the first box-type body 4′ and the apertures 22′ of the bottom 20′ of the second box-type body 15′, inside the second box-type body 15′ containing the material capable to adsorb moisture, without releasing the adsorbed water.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the container may be accessible from outside, so that, in the case when the material capable to adsorb moisture exhausts its adsorbing capability, the second box-type body 15′, containing such material, along with the first box-type body 4′, may be removed and replaced with new similar components, or the material may be reinserted within the second box-type body 15′ by removing the lid 23′.

Other embodiments of the container according to the invention may comprise a unique box-type body, having at least one inlet for the air capable to make the inside of the box-type body communicating with the outside, in particular with a seat housing the same container. The unique box-type body is advantageously provided with means for shutting and opening the inlet, preferably operatable by the user's foot, so that, in walking phase (when the foot is inserted in the footwear), said container assumes an active position wherein the shutting and opening means opens said at least one inlet, allowing air to enter the inside of the box-type body from the seat housing the container, wherein a moisture adsorbing material is advantageously housed, such that it does not release the adsorbed water. By way of example, such shutting and opening means may comprise a diaphragm that is kept in a position of closure of a through hole of the box-type body by a spring, that is moved by the pressure of the user's foot, thus opening the hole and making the inside of the box-type body communicating with the inside of the upper.

Advantageously, the container may contain, alternatively to or in combination with the dehumidifier material, at least one medicinal material for foot therapy, that is released to air and that, in the active position, reaches the inside of the upper. In particular, the dehumidifier material and the medicinal material(s) may be housed in respective separated compartments of the container.

It is thus evident the invention has reached the prefixed goal and objects, since it has been conceived a footwear structure allowing to obtain a reduction of moisture inside the upper, so as to improve user's comfort and to eliminate possible formation of bad smells, moulds and fungi. This is particularly advantageous in the case of work shoes, wherein foot perspiration is usually very high, or during winter, since it has been shown that it is just the sweat to make foot cold.

Moreover, since the material capable to absorb moisture is subjected to the moist air present within the seat only when the user's foot is inserted in the footwear, the life of such material is much longer in respect to the prior art, and the same thus needs to be replaced much less frequently, with consequent savings which this entails.

Still, moisture is deposited within the tank, from which it may flow out only through a user's manual operation, and it does not get in contact with the sole or other parts of the footwear, with the consequent risk of deterioration that this would entail.

In addition, the footwear structure according to the invention, since it has no ducts connecting the seat with the sole bottom, has no problems related to their possible obstruction.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all included within the scope of the same inventive concept.

Obviously, materials employed as well as size of the single components of the embodiments could be as pertinent as specific needs require.

The different means for carrying out certain different functions shall not certainly have to coexist only in the shown embodiment, but they could be as such present in many, even not shown, embodiments.

Features indicated as advantageous, suitable or the like, may also be missing or replaced with equivalents.

The present invention has been described, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, according its preferred embodiments, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make variations and/or changes, without so departing from the related scope of protection, as defined by the enclosed claims. 

1. A footwear structure with improved comfortableness comprising an upper with which a sole is associated, further comprising a container comprising a box-type body, containing at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, provided with at least one inlet, and means for shutting and opening said at least one inlet that is kept, in walking phase, in an active position wherein said at least one inlet is accessible and communicating with the inside of the upper, wherein said shutting and opening means comprises a further box-type body inside which the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is associated in a sliding way, bucking an elastically deformable element.
 2. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable element is interposed between the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material and the further box-type body.
 3. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is substantially counter-shaped, according to a plan view, in respect to the bottom of the further box-type body.
 4. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein a seat for housing said container, in a preferably removable way, more preferably in the heel zone, and means for collecting and transferring moisture from the inside of said upper to said seat are made within the sole.
 5. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is hollow, open upwards and closable by a lid.
 6. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material has a substantially parallelepiped or prismatic or cylindrical conformation.
 7. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the further box-type body has an upper perimeter edge from which a perimeter projection radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge, which projection has a substantially plate conformation.
 8. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein said shutting and opening means further comprises a shaped cylindrical pin, with which the bottom of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is provided, capable to be inserted in an aperture of the bottom of the further box-type body, such that a pin lower end protrudes therefrom downwards, with which lower end a washer or small disk of diameter larger than that of the aperture of the bottom of the further box-type body is associated, said at least one inlet comprising one or more apertures of the bottom of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, whereby the washer is spaced apart, in the active position, from the aperture of the bottom of the further box-type body.
 9. A footwear structure according to claim 8, wherein the dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is capable to adsorb steam without releasing the adsorbed water.
 10. A footwear structure according to claim 8, wherein the further box-type body has an upper perimeter edge from which a perimeter projection radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge, which projection has a substantially plate conformation, wherein the perimeter projection of the further box-type body has, in the inner zone, that is adjacent to the upper perimeter edge, a notch defining a first seat, the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material having an upper perimeter edge from which a perimeter projection radially projects, towards the outside of the same edge, having a substantially plate conformation, that is capable to be housed within the first seat of the further box-type body.
 11. A footwear structure according to claim 10, wherein the bottom of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is substantially counter-shaped, according to a plan view, in respect to the bottom of the further box-type body, wherein the perimeter projection of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material has, in the inner zone, that is adjacent to the upper perimeter edge, a notch defining a second seat capable to house the lid, preferably having a substantially plate conformation, more preferably having such size that it elastically engages with its perimeter edge with the seat of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material.
 12. A footwear structure according to claim 8, wherein the elastically deformable element is interposed between the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material and the further box-type body, wherein the elastically deformable element is a spring placed coaxially to the pin.
 13. A footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein said container further comprises a moisture gathering tank communicating with the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, said shutting and opening means further comprising a valve interposed between the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material and the further box-type body, said at least one inlet comprising first and second holes with which the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material and the further box-type body are respectively provided, the first and second holes being kept mutually facing in the active position.
 14. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein the tank has, according to a plan view, a conformation substantially counter-shaped in respect to the bottom of the further box-type body.
 15. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein the further box-type body, that is hollow and open upwards, has a bottom wherein a first through aperture is made, which communicates with the tank, that is removably downwards associated with the further box-type body, the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material having a bottom wherein one or more second through apertures are made, and with which the valve operatable at reaching the active position is associated.
 16. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material has a substantially parallelepiped or prismatic or cylindrical conformation, wherein the first holes are made in two mutually parallel walls constituting a side surface of the further box-type body.
 17. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein a first notch or scarcement perimeter defining a first perimeter substantially vertical ledge is made on the outer surface of the bottom of the further box-type body, in the proximity of the perimeter edge thereof.
 18. A footwear structure according to claim 17, wherein the tank has, in correspondence of the free ends of the side walls, a second notch or scarcement defining a second substantially vertical ledge, that is engagable, when in use, with the first ledge of the bottom of the further box-type body.
 19. A footwear structure according to claim 18, wherein the projection of the second ledge on the horizontal plane falls within the projection of the first ledge on the same plane, said first and second ledges being mutually associatable through a preliminary elastic flexure of the side walls of the tank towards the outside of the latter.
 20. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein a third scarcement or notch defining a third perimeter ledge is made on the side surface of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, internally to the same and starting from the upper perimeter edge of the same.
 21. A footwear structure according to claim 20, wherein the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is hollow, open upwards and closable by a lid, wherein the lid has a plate conformation and such size that it is positioned with its perimeter edge engaging with the third ledge made on the side surface of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material.
 22. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein a third through hole is made in the bottom del box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, in respect to which one or more second through apertures are made sideways.
 23. A footwear structure according to claim 22, wherein the valve is constituted of a, preferably cylindrical, stem, of diameter larger than the diameter of the third hole and lower than that of the first aperture, in the side surface of which an annular groove is made, in the proximity of its upper end facing the inside of the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, having diameter lower than the diameter of the third hole, so as to be able to be positioned internally to the same constraining the position of the valve in respect to the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material.
 24. A footwear structure according to claim 23, wherein the upper end of the stem is substantially hemispherical so as to facilitate its unidirectional passage through the third hole.
 25. A footwear structure according to claim 23, wherein the stem sets itself, when in use, internally to the first aperture, from which its lower end protrudes towards the tank, with which lower end a washer or small disk of diameter larger than that of the same first aperture is associated.
 26. A footwear structure according to claim 13, wherein the elastically deformable element is interposed between the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material and the further box-type body, wherein the elastically deformable element is a spring placed coaxially to the valve.
 27. A footwear structure according to claim 7, wherein it comprises an inner sole, superimposable to the sole and having, in the heel zone, a fourth hole placed, when in use, upwards in respect to the seat of the sole, the further box-type body placing, when in use, internally to the fourth hole and nearly wholly inside the seat, protruding from the same with the perimeter projection, that is supported by the upper surface of the inner sole, in correspondence with the perimeter edge of the fourth hole.
 28. A footwear structure according to claim 27, wherein, in said active position, said at least one inlet communicates with the inside of the seat, the latter in turn communicating with the inside of the upper through means for collecting and transferring moisture, which means comprises a series of chambers defined within the sole and communicating with each other through slits, small tubes capable to guide the air from the chambers to the seat, slots, contiguous slits and a plurality of fifth holes made in the inner sole and sixth holes, mutually interconnected through grooves, made in a removable insole, that is positionable upon the inner sole.
 29. Container A container comprising a box-type body, containing at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material, provided with at least one inlet, which is capable to be used in a footwear structure with improved comfortableness comprising an upper with which a sole is associated, further comprising means for shutting and opening said at least one inlet that is kept, in walking phase, in an active position wherein said at least one inlet is accessible and communicating with the inside of the upper, wherein said shutting and opening means comprises a further box-type body inside which the box-type body containing said at least one dehumidifier and/or medicinal material is associated in a sliding way, bucking an elastically deformable element. 